What Happens Before Radiation Therapy Treatment?

If your medical expert and you have decided that radiation therapy is the treatment option for you, you will start with an extended meeting with your doctor to prepare for it. At the time of this meeting, you will also have a physical exam and consult about your medical history, and potentially have done some imaging tests. You and your doctor will also discuss about the external beam radiation therapy, the side effects & the benefits during this particular meeting.

In this blog, you can get aware of the procedure before this radiation therapy, and you will feel better and feel more confident about this treatment.

What happens before this radiation therapy treatment?

Each treatment plan is made as per the patient's disease stage, extent and taking into account other medical history as well. Also, some specific tests may be required before starting this treatment:

Meeting with your radiation oncologist of yours.

The doctor will review your medical record and perform the recommended tests and physical exams. Also, you will learn about some potential risks & the benefits of radiation therapy. This is the actual time to ask some questions or share the concerns you have.

Providing permission for the radiation therapy

If you need radiation therapy, you will have to give an informed consent and sign the form. Signing this particular document means:

• You give consent to have radiation therapy.
• You provide the specific permission for your health care professionals to provide the treatment.
• You understand the radiation planning procedure.
• Simulating and planning treatment. Your 1st radiation therapy session is the actual simulation. It means this is the practice run without providing radiation therapy. Your expert team will utilise imaging scans to identify the tumour’s location. These also can include:
  1- The computed tomography scans
  2- Magnetic resonance imaging
  3- The x-ray
• You understand the side effects of treatment during and afterwards

Depending on the treated area, you can receive a small mark on your skin. This will also help your team position you during treatment and aim the radiation beam at the tumour.
Also, a cast/mask will be made to immobilise you so that you do not move during radiation and it is more focussed. This could also could include utilising:

• Foam sponges
• Headrests
• Plaster casts
• Moulds

These items also help you stay in the same position throughout treatment.
This mask is made for the part that needs to be treated and immobilised.

Who does this radiation therapy?

The highly trained medical team will work together to deliver you the best care. This team includes the following health care professionals:

Radiation Oncologist: This doctor is an oncologist who specialises in providing radiation therapy to treat this deadly disease, cancer. Radiation oncologist oversees radiation therapy treatments. Closely they work with other team members to develop the specific treatment plan for you.

Radiation Oncology Nurse: This nurse specialises typically in caring for people receiving this radiation therapy. The radiation oncologist nurse generally plays leading roles, which include:

• Enquires some specific questions during this treatment
• Monitoring your health at the time of treatment
• Helping you to manage all side effects of this treatment.

Medical radiation physicist

This expert assists in designing the treatment plans. They are skilled experts at utilising radiation equipment.

Technologist on Radiation Therapy

This professional operates the specific treatment machines typically & provides people with their scheduled proper treatment.

Other health care professionals

The additional team members care for emotional, social and physical needs during this radiation therapy. Which may include:

• Dietitians or Nutritionists
• Dentists
• Rehabilitation therapists, like speech therapists or physical therapists.

With the help of this medical science, you can easily overcome this problem, and you need to take the medical guidance at the early stage and follow the guideline of your medical experts.